Described in the Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews as “one of the most influential legal philosophers of our time,” Leiter is a professor of jurisprudence at the University of Chicago School of Law, where he founded the school’s Center for Law, Philosophy and Human Values in 2008. He has written a number of books on law, jurisprudence and philosophy.

Law360: How do you decompress after a long week?

Leiter: Here’s the problem: I never decompress. I’m just about always going at full speed until I’m asleep.

Name three people, dead or alive, you’d like to have lunch with.

Well, most certainly the German philosopher [Friedrich] Nietzsche, whom I’ve devoted a lot of my work to over many years. I understand that, despite his rather ferocious writing style, he was quite pleasant company at meals. I guess I would be very curious to have lunch with Samuel Beckett, but I gather that Beckett wasn’t great company. It might be better to go to a pub with him than lunch. But it strikes me as fascinating. Who would be the third? I guess Karl Marx, the other great figure of 19th century German philosophy. So, two philosophers and one literary figure with a philosophical bent.

Or maybe all three at once would be interesting?

I don’t think Nietzsche and Marx would get along very well. That’s partly why I find them both interesting. They disagree quite profoundly.

What’s something about you people would be surprised to learn?

I have very lowbrow taste in movies. I have kind of lowbrow taste in music, too.

What’s an example of that?

Well, I like things like “The Professional” [1994] about the professional hit man. Or, here’s something people wouldn’t know: I own every album Grand Funk Railroad released between 1969 and 1975. I bought them all used, though, so I didn't overpay for them. I have them all on vinyl. I have a very large vinyl collection. Although I haven’t had a working phonograph in a number of years.

Do you have a guilty pleasure?

I’m not sure I feel as guilty as I should about it. But I am extremely partial to different kinds of artisan salamis. I should feel more guilty about it, and then I would eat them less often.

Do you have a bucket list, and, if so, what’s on it?

I do not have a bucket list. But if I were to have one, the only thing that would be on it would be to live long enough to see my children grow up, get married, have children, start their lives and careers and see that they’re well off. [He has three children, the youngest is 14 and the oldest is 20.]

Do you have any friends that would surprise people?

One of my oldest friends is a professional rock ’n’ roll musician. And he and I, when we were teenagers and into my early 20s, would record rock ’n’ roll music. But he’s actually made a career of it. We met at a performing arts summer camp on Long Island many years ago.

What’s his name?

Tommy Williams. He has not become a super famous rock ’n’ roll musician, but he’s a professional musician. He tours quite regularly with The Hooters. He performs with a lot of different outfits. He records his own music.

Do you still play an instrument?

Unfortunately not. I still have the guitar on which I wrote and recorded all of the songs we recorded. But I haven’t played it in many years now. So, that was the career that didn’t happen.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3483446&forum_id=2#32399203)

I bought them all used, though, so I didn't overpay for them.

I bought them all used, though, so I didn't overpay for them.

I bought them all used, though, so I didn't overpay for them.

I bought them all used, though, so I didn't overpay for them.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3483446&forum_id=2#32399244)

"Despite being a brilliant legal philosopher and scholar, you might be surprised to know that I'm so chill and kooky I even like the acclaimed foreign hipster action film The Professional (1994). How's that for lowbrow!?"

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3483446&forum_id=2#33291289)